Photo courtesy of LowKick MMA

Everyone wants to know who will contend for the bantamweight champion next after former champion Henry Cejudo announced his retirement.

On July 11 at Fight Island, No. 3-ranked Petr Yan will take on No. 6-ranked Jose Aldo for the vacant title. The two fighters may have first dibs for the belt, but many are wondering whether they are the best options for the championship.

The UFC matchmakers have received a lot of criticism for giving Aldo a title shot despite being No. 6 in the rankings. The welterweight fighter has lost two straight bouts leading into the scheduled contest, including one loss from No. 1-contender Marlon Moraes.

Is Dana White playing favorites and just giving Aldo a title shot because he is a big name in the industry? Or are the matchmakers on to something that the fans aren’t aware of?

Another name in the mix is No. 2 Aljamain Sterling who has won five straight and has been consistently climbing the division rankings lately. Does he deserve a shot at the title soon?

So, do you think the UFC got the matchup right, or do you think there could have been some better options for the vacant bantamweight belt?

Written by: Drew Pierce